Territory burnt by illegal drug prices

The Australian Crime Commission says people in the Northern Territory pay more than twice as much as other Australians for some illegal drugs.

The commission's Illicit Drug Data report shows Territorians pay up to $100 per gram for cannabis.

It says the street price in other jurisdictions is $20 to $50.

The commission's Dr David Lacey says the Territory's isolation drives up costs.

"Illicit drug prices are influenced by availability and economic conditions and perceived market placement, like any business," he said.

"Organised criminal groups use business models to recover the additional logistical or financial costs associated with trafficking drugs to remote communities in the form of high prices for consumers."

The report says cannabis continues to account for the largest proportion of illicit drug seizures in the Territory.

More than 90 per cent of the weight of illicit drugs seized in 2009-10 was cannabis.

Nationally, cannabis accounted for 76 per cent of the weight of drug seizures.

The commission also voiced its concern about a growing number of clandestine drug laboratories found in residential areas of the Territory.

The reports says 12 illegal drug labs were uncovered in the Territory in 2009-10.